Passenger suite seating arrangement with moveable video monitor

ABSTRACT

A passenger suite seating arrangement including a first passenger suite including a first seat and a first video monitor fixed in position directly forward of the first seat, and a second passenger suite including a second seat facing the first seat and laterally offset relative thereto, the second suite including a second video monitor configured to move parallel to a viewing angle of a passenger seated in the second seat to selectively connect and divide the first and second suites.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/678,170 filed Aug. 1, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to premium class aircraftpassenger seating arrangements and seat privacy, and more particularly,to a seating arrangement including laterally adjacent columns ofalternating fore and aft facing suites, wherein video monitors andpartitions are moveable to selectively provide privacy between suites orto permit conferencing between laterally and longitudinally adjacentsuites.

Premium passenger seating arrangements in aircraft can take the form ofindividual suites separated and defined by privacy walls and partitions.Such suites typically include a passenger living area outfitted withcomfort, luxury and convenience features such as lie-flat adjustableseats, desks, advanced media and electronics, closets and variousstorage compartments, among other amenities.

With the development of passenger suites, there is a continuing effortto offer more and better features and amenities to passengers to furtheraccommodate their needs and increase the level of luxury of such suites.There is also a continuing effort to arrange suites to maximize seatingdensity in an aircraft, maximize the use of limited space in the suites,and maintain the perceived openness of the suites. While passengers havecome to expect certain amenities, the inclusion of amenities comes withadditional cost, weight, complexity and space requirements.

Therefore, to meet the expectations of passengers while maximizing theuse of space and minimizing complexity, provided herein are novelpassenger seating arrangements and amenity configurations whereinamenities are arranged to serve multiple functions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a passenger suite seatingarrangement that maximizes seating density and the use of space.

It is another object of the invention to provide a passenger suiteseating arrangement that permits conferencing between passengers inlaterally and longitudinally adjacent suites.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a passenger seatingarrangement including suites that nest and share partition walls.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a passenger suiteseating arrangement including one or more columns of alternating foreand aft facing suites.

It is a further object of the invention to provide suites havingmoveable partition walls that open to connect laterally adjacent suites.

It is a further object of the invention to provide suite amenities thatserve multiple functions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a video monitorconfigured to move left and right parallel to a passenger's viewingplane for privacy or to permit conferencing between passengers inadjacent suites.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a passenger suiteseating arrangement including partitions and amenities configured tomove or stow to permit conferencing and line of sight between a firstpassenger in a first suite, a second passenger in a second suitelongitudinally adjacent the first suite, and a third passenger in athird suite laterally adjacent the second suite.

To achieve the foregoing and other aspects and advantages, in oneembodiment an aircraft passenger suite seating arrangement is providedherein including a first passenger suite including a first seat and afirst video monitor fixed in position directly forward of the firstseat, and a second passenger suite including a second seat facing thefirst seat and laterally offset relative thereto along a longitudinalaxis of the first and second suites, the second suite including a secondvideo monitor configured to move to selectively connect and divide thefirst and second suites.

In another embodiment, the second video monitor may move parallel to aviewing angle of a passenger seated in the second seat, and the firstand second passenger suites may share a desk positioned therebetweendivided by the second video monitor when the second video monitor ispositioned directly forward of the second seat.

In a further embodiment, the first and second passenger suites may nestto form a column aligned parallel with a longitudinal axis of anaircraft.

In a further embodiment, the seating arrangement may include a thirdpassenger suite laterally adjacent the second passenger suite, the thirdpassenger suite including a third seat adjacent the second seat, thesecond and third seats facing in the same direction.

In a further embodiment, the seating arrangement may include a partitionpositioned between the second and third seats, the partition moveablebetween a deployed position dividing the second and third passengersuites and a stowed position connecting the second and third passengersuites.

In a further embodiment, line of sight is provided between passengersseated in the first, second and third seats when the second videomonitor is positioned laterally offset relative to the second seat andthe partition between the second and third seats is stowed.

In a further embodiment, the seating arrangement may include a fourthpassenger suite facing the third passenger suite and laterally adjacentthe first passenger suite, the fourth passenger suite including a fourthseat, the first and second passenger suites arranged to form a firstcolumn and the third and fourth passenger suites arranged to form asecond column laterally adjacent the first column, wherein the first andfourth seats are outboard seats adjacent aisles and the second and thirdseats are inboard seats adjacent each other.

In a further embodiment, each of the first, second, third and fourthpassenger suites may include a tray table deployable from a positiondirectly forward and spaced apart from the respective seat to a positiondirectly forward and over the respective seat.

In a further embodiment, the first and second seats may be lie-flatadjustable seats, and wherein legrests of the first and second seats maylaterally overlap along the longitudinal axis of the first and secondpassenger suites when the first and second seats are both in a lie-flatconfiguration.

In a further embodiment, the legrest of the first seat in a lie-flatconfiguration may be positioned underneath a desk of the secondpassenger suite, and the legrest of the second seat in a lie-flatconfiguration may be positioned underneath a desk of the first passengersuite.

In a further embodiment, the first and second passenger suites may bedivided by a shared console, the console topped with a desk shared bythe first and second passenger suites, the desk supporting the first andsecond video monitors thereon, and the desk being divided by the secondvideo monitor when the second video monitor is positioned directlyforward of the second seat.

In a further embodiment, the first and second video monitors may extendvertically upward to a height above seat backs of the first and secondseats.

In a further embodiment, partition walls positioned behind the first andsecond seats may be sinusoidal shaped to accommodate a seat in alie-flat configuration.

In a further embodiment, line of sight may be provided betweenpassengers seated in the first and second seats when the second videomonitor is positioned laterally offset relative to the second seat.

In another embodiment, provided herein is an aircraft passenger seatingarrangement including a first passenger suite including a first seat anda first video monitor fixed in position directly forward of the firstseat, a second passenger suite including a second seat facing the firstseat, the second seat laterally offset relative to the first seat alonga longitudinal axis of the first and second suites, the second suiteincluding a second video monitor configured to move between a firstposition dividing the first and second passenger suites and a secondposition connecting the first and second passenger suites, and a thirdpassenger suite laterally adjacent the second passenger suite, the thirdpassenger suite including a third seat adjacent the second seat, thesecond and third seats facing in the same direction.

In another embodiment, the second and third passenger suites may bedivided by a partition positioned between the second and third seats,the partition configured to move between a deployed position dividingthe second and third passenger suites and a stowed position connectingthe second and third passenger suites.

In a further embodiment, line of sight may be provided betweenpassengers seated in the first, second and third passenger suites whenthe second video monitor is positioned laterally offset from the secondseat and the partition is stowed.

In a further embodiment, the seating arrangement may include a deskpositioned between the first and second passenger suites, the deskdivided by the second video monitor when the second video monitor ispositioned directly forward of the second seat.

In a further embodiment, the first and second passenger suites may bedivided by a shared console, the console topped with a desk, portions ofthe desk being shared between the first and second passenger suites, thedesk supporting the first and second video monitors thereon, and thedesk being divided by the second video monitor when the second videomonitor is positioned directly forward of the second seat.

In a further embodiment, the first and second passenger suites may nestto form a column wherein legrest portions of the first and second seatslaterally overlap along a length of the column, and wherein a legrest ofeach of the first and second seats is positioned underneath a desk ofthe opposing suite when the first and second seats are in a lie-flatconfiguration.

Embodiments of the invention can include one or more or any combinationof the above features and configurations.

Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description orrecognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description present various embodiments of the invention, andare intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanyingdrawings are included to provide a further understanding of theinvention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are understoodwhen the following detailed description of the invention is read withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overhead perspective view of a passenger suite seatingarrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another overhead perspective view of the seating arrangementshowing seat adjustability and deployable tray tables;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of longitudinally adjacent suites shownwith the moveable video monitor in a stowed position to allow facingpassengers to see one another and converse;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a portion of a column of suitesshowing the moveable video monitor in a deployed position to block theopening between facing suites;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a portion of a column of suitesshowing the moveable video monitor in a stowed position to allow facingpassengers to see one another and converse; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of three adjacent suites showing the videomonitor in a stowed position and the partition between laterallyadjacent seats in a lowered position to open the suites to one anotherto allow passengers in the suites to communicate and see one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments ofthe invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to therepresentative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodimentsare provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete,and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one ofordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Likereference numbers refer to like elements throughout the variousdrawings.

Referring to the figures, provided herein are various embodiments ofpassenger suite seating arrangements, for example, for installationwithin an aircraft or other conveyance. The term “suite” as used hereinincludes individual passenger living compartments or living spacesgenerally including adjustable seats, working surfaces, tray tables,video equipment, etc. Each suite may have its own entrance accessiblefrom an aisle. Suites are divided and separated by one or more ofpartitions, shared structures, privacy walls, etc. Directions andoffsets are generally described herein with reference to thelongitudinal axis of the aircraft or conveyance, wherein the“longitudinal direction” is intended to be along the length of theaircraft and the “lateral” direction is intended to be in the directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

As shown throughout the figure, the suites are arranged with theirlength parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and thusparallel to the aisles. The suites may have a longer length than widthto accommodate the length of a lie-flat adjustable seat when fullyreclined to form a horizontal bed surface. As shown, the seats withinthe suites are arranged with their longitudinal axis generally parallelto the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Suites may be arranged in anygroup including any number of suites. For example, suites may bearranged end-to-end to form columns of alternating fore and aft facingsuites. Columns may flanked on either side by aisles, by an aisle on oneside and a column of similar or dissimilar suites on the other side, orby columns on both sides so long as an entrance to each suite isprovided. Suites may have varying lengths and widths to accommodate thefurniture and amenities provided therein. Suites may also have varyingheights depending on the available air space and degree of privacydesired. Although each suite is shown including only a single adjustablesuite, it is envisioned that suites may include more than one seat andsized and shaped accordingly.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, an embodiment of a premium class passengerseating arrangement is shown generally at reference numeral 20. Theseating arrangement generally includes a plurality of passenger suitesarranged into columns and rows. The seating arrangement includes a firstpassenger suite 22 including a first seat 24 and a first video monitor26 fixed in position directly forward of the first seat 24. The firstvideo monitor 26 may be an in-flight entertainment monitor and may behoused within a cabinet 28 or mounted to a supporting structure, forexample a vertical wall. The first video monitor 26 is positioneddirectly forward of the first seat 24 to position the monitor at theoptimum viewing angle for a passenger seated in the first seat 24. Thefirst video monitor 26 may function to display in-flight movies, shows,informational messages and may link with a communications devicesupplied by the passenger or airline carrier.

The first seat 24, as well as the other seats disclosed herein, may be afully adjustable seat configured to move between an upright position fortaxi, take-off and landing, and a lie-flat position forming a horizontalbed. The seats disclosed herein generally include a seat back, a seatpan, a legrest and left and right armrests. “Inboard” seats are definedherein as seats spaced from the aisle, for example positioned along theinterior wall of the suite. “Outboard” seats are defined herein as seatspositioned adjacent the aisle. A “fore” or “forward” facing seat asdefined herein faces in the direction of the cockpit, while an “aft”facing seat faces in the direction of the tail. Seats may be required tobe in their upright position to permit ingress/egress to and from thesuite, particularly in the case of outboard seats.

The seating arrangement further includes a second passenger suite 30including a second seat 32 facing the first seat 24 and laterally offsetrelative thereto along a longitudinal axis of the first and secondsuites. The first and second seats 24, 32 thus face each other but arelaterally offset. The second suite 30 includes a second video monitor 34configured to move to selectively connect and divide the first andsecond suites. In other words, the second video monitor 34 is moveablefrom a first position laterally offset relative to the second seat 32,to a second position directly forward of the second seat 32. In aspecific configuration, the second video monitor 34 is configured toselectively move left and right generally parallel to a viewing angle ofa passenger seated in the second seat 32.

As best shown by a comparison between FIGS. 4 and 5, when the secondvideo monitor 34 is in the first or “right” or “stowed” position, thepassengers seated in the first and second seats 24, 32 are able to seeone another (i.e., have line of sight) and can communicate orconference. In other words, when the second video monitor 34 islaterally offset relative to the second seat 32, a space between thefirst and second suites 22, 30 above the desk is left open, thus“connecting” the suites. When the second video monitor 34 is in thesecond, left or deployed position directly forward of the second seat32, the optimum viewing angle for the monitor is provided to thepassenger seated in the second seat 32 and the space between the firstand second suites 22, 30 is closed off or blocked. This divides thesuites, provides privacy between the suites and divides the workingsurface upon which the monitors are supported.

The first video monitor 26 is fixed in position. The second videomonitor 34 is configured to selectively move left and right. Movementmay be by way of sliding, such as along a track. The track may bemounted to the top surface of the supporting desk. The monitor mayalternatively be hung from a track or cantilevered as easily achieved byone skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet 28housing the first video monitor 26 carries a track at the top thereoffrom which the second video monitor 34 is hung. The second video monitor34 is attached to a portion of a bearing slide 36, such as a linearball-bearing slide, roller bearing slide or progressive action slidethat allows the second video monitor 34 to be drawn out horizontally andselectively positioned. The bearing slide 36 may include a mechanism toprevent the second video monitor 34 from accidentally being moved ineither direction.

The first and second passenger suites 22, 30 are divided and separatedby a shared console 38 that supports the monitors, defines footwells,supports working surfaces, defines compartments, etc. A desk 40 ispositioned atop the console 38 and provides a flat, horizontal workingsurface for eating, supporting a computer, writing, etc. The desk 40 maybe shared by both the first and second suites 22, 30 and may extend intoportions of both suites. Each suite 22, 30 may also include its owndesk. The desk 40 may be divided by the second video monitor 34 when thesecond video monitor is positioned directly forward of the second seat32.

The seating arrangement 20 further includes a third passenger suite 42arranged laterally adjacent the second passenger suite 30. The thirdpassenger suite 42 includes a third seat 44 positioned adjacent thesecond seat 32. The second and third seats 32, 44 both face in the samedirection.

A moveable partition 46 is positioned between the second and third seats32, 44. The partition 46 is configured to selectively move between adeployed position dividing the second and third passenger suites 30, 42(see FIGS. 1 and 2), and a stowed position connecting the second andthird passenger suites (see FIG. 6). The partition may raise and, lower,or may slide to the left and right depending upon configuration of thepartition, available space vertically below the partition, availablespace to either the left or right of the partition, among other factors.

As best shown in FIG. 6, stowing the partition opens the space betweenthe second and third suites 30, 42 and allows conferencing and line ofsight between passengers seated in the second and third suites 30, 42.When both the second video monitor 34 and the partition 46 are stowed,it is possible for the passengers seated in the first, second and thirdsuites 22, 30 and 42 to see each other and communicate. In other words,line of sight is provided between passengers seated in the first, secondand third seats 24, 32 and 44 when the second video monitor 34 ispositioned laterally offset relative to the second seat 32 and thepartition 46 between the second and third seats is stowed. Thus,conferencing is not only permitted between suites within the samecolumn, but between suites within adjacent columns. Working surfaces mayalso be shaped and configured so that they can be shared between thepassengers. Actuating the movement of the second video monitor 34 andthe partition 46 may be done manually or automatically through acontroller located in a suite control panel.

In a further embodiment, the seating arrangement may include a fourthpassenger suite 48 facing the third passenger suite 42 and laterallyadjacent the first passenger suite 22. The fourth passenger suite 48includes a fourth seat 50. The first and second passenger suites 22, 30are arranged to form a first column and the third and fourth passengersuites 42, 48 are arranged to form a second column laterally adjacentthe first column The first and fourth seats 24, 50 are outboard seatsadjacent the aisles, and the second and third seats 32, 44 are inboardseats spaced apart from the aisles.

One or more of the first, second, third and fourth suites 22, 30, 42, 48may include a tray table 52 deployable from a first position directlyforward and spaced apart from its respective seat, to a second positiondirectly forward and over its respective seat. The tray table 52 maydeploy from beneath the desk 40, and may stow beneath the desk to permitegress from the seat. The tray table 52 can be configured to slideforward and backward relative to the seat along a track positioned tothe side of the seat in the console 38. The tray table 52 can beadjustable vertically as well for maximum adjustability.

The seats described herein are preferably lie-flat adjustable seatswherein legrests 54 of the first and second seats 24, 32 laterallyoverlap along the longitudinal axis of the first and second passengersuites 22, 30 when the first and second seats are both in a lie-flatconfiguration. When the first seat 24 is in the lie-flat configuration,the respective legrest 54 (or the feet of the seat occupant) may extendunderneath the desk 40 of the second passenger suite 30. When the secondseat 32 is in the lie-flat configuration, the respective legrest 54 (orthe feet of the seat occupant) may extend beneath the desk of the firstpassenger suite 22.

The first and second video monitors 26, 34 and their respectivecabinets, as well as the partition walls dividing the suites, preferablyextend vertically above a height of the seat back 56 in the uprightseating position to provide privacy between suites. The partition walls58 positioned behind the seats may be sinusoidal shaped to accommodatethe long length of a reclined seat and shorter length of the spaceadjacent the seat. The partition or “privacy walls” may be sharedbetween suites or suites may each include their own walls depending onthe suite arrangement and suite positioned within the cabin. FIG. 1includes two different exemplary arrangements of suite walls, with thesuite wall of suite 30 extending in the direction of suite 42. Suite 42includes a suite wall that curves around the seat 44.

Further features may include a shelf 60 positioned within each footwellthat functions as an ottoman, providing power and media connections andassociated cabling in the console, lighting, etc. Cabling associatedwith the second video monitor 34 may be positioned to the side of themonitor adjacent the aisle, and can be managed to prevent tanglingduring sliding movement.

The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by wayof example only. It is envisioned that other embodiments may performsimilar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all suchequivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the presentinvention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A passenger suite seating arrangement,comprising: a first passenger suite including a first seat and a firstvideo monitor fixed in position directly forward of the first seat; anda second passenger suite including a second seat facing the first seatand laterally offset relative thereto along a longitudinal axis of thefirst and second passenger suites, the second passenger suite includinga second video monitor configured to move between first and secondpositions to connect and divide the first and second passenger suites.2. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second video monitormoves parallel to a viewing angle of a passenger seated in the secondseat, and wherein the first and second passenger suites share a deskpositioned therebetween divided by the second video monitor when thesecond video monitor is positioned directly forward of the second seat.3. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first and secondpassenger suites nest to form a column aligned parallel to alongitudinal axis of an aircraft.
 4. The seating arrangement of claim 1,further comprising a third passenger suite laterally adjacent the secondpassenger suite, the third passenger suite including a third seatadjacent the second seat, the second and third seats facing in the samedirection.
 5. The seating arrangement of claim 4, further comprising apartition positioned between the second and third seats, the partitionmoveable between a deployed position dividing the second and thirdpassenger suites and a stowed position connecting the second and thirdpassenger suites.
 6. The seating arrangement of claim 5, wherein line ofsight is provided between passengers seated in the first, second andthird seats when the second video monitor is positioned laterally offsetrelative to the second seat and the partition is stowed.
 7. The seatingarrangement of claim 4, further comprising a fourth passenger suitefacing the third passenger suite and laterally adjacent the firstpassenger suite, the fourth passenger suite including a fourth seat, thefirst and second passenger suites arranged to form a first column andthe third and fourth passenger suites arranged to form a second columnlaterally adjacent the first column, wherein the first and fourth seatsare outboard seats adjacent aisles and the second and third seats areinboard seats adjacent one another.
 8. The seating arrangement of claim1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth passenger suitesinclude a tray table deployable from a position directly forward andspaced apart from the respective seat to a position directly forward andover the respective seat.
 9. The seating arrangement of claim 1, whereinthe first and second seats are lie-flat adjustable seats, and whereinlegrests of the first and second seats laterally overlap along thelongitudinal axis of the first and second passenger suites when thefirst and second seats are both in a lie-flat configuration.
 10. Theseating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the legrest of the first seat ina lie-flat configuration is positioned underneath a desk of the secondpassenger suite, and the legrest of the second seat in a lie-flatconfiguration is positioned underneath a desk of the first passengersuite.
 11. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond passenger suites are divided by a shared console, the consoletopped with a desk shared by the first and second passenger suites, thedesk supporting the first and second video monitors thereon, and thedesk being divided by the second video monitor when the second videomonitor is positioned directly forward of the second seat.
 12. Theseating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the first and second videomonitors extend vertically upward to a height above seat backs of thefirst and second seats.
 13. The seating arrangement of claim 1, whereinpartition walls positioned behind the first and second seats aresinusoidal shaped to accommodate a seat in a lie-flat configuration. 14.The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein line of sight is providedbetween passengers seated in the first and second seats when the secondvideo monitor is positioned laterally offset relative to the secondseat.
 15. An aircraft passenger seating arrangement, comprising: a firstpassenger suite including a first seat and a first video monitor fixedin position directly forward of the first seat; a second passenger suiteincluding a second seat facing the first seat, the second seat laterallyoffset relative to the first seat along a longitudinal axis of the firstand second suites, the second suite including a second video monitorconfigured to move between a first position dividing the first andsecond passenger suites and a second position connecting the first andsecond passenger suites; and a third passenger suite laterally adjacentthe second passenger suite, the third passenger suite including a thirdseat adjacent the second seat, the second and third seats facing in thesame direction.
 16. The passenger seating arrangement of claim 15,wherein the second and third passenger suites are divided by a partitionpositioned between the second and third seats, the partition configuredto move between a deployed position dividing the second and thirdpassenger suites and a stowed position connecting the second and thirdpassenger suites.
 17. The passenger seating arrangement of claim 16,wherein line of sight is provided between passengers seated in thefirst, second and third passenger suites when the second video monitoris positioned laterally offset from the second seat and the partition isstowed.
 18. The passenger seating arrangement of claim 15, furthercomprising a desk positioned between the first and second passengersuites, the desk divided by the second video monitor when the secondvideo monitor is positioned directly forward of the second seat.
 19. Thepassenger seating arrangement of claim 15, wherein the first and secondpassenger suites are divided by a console, the console topped with adesk shared by the first and second passenger suites, the desksupporting the first and second video monitors thereon, and the deskbeing divided by the second video monitor when the second video monitoris positioned directly forward of the second seat.
 20. The passengerseating arrangement of claim 15, wherein the first and second passengersuites nest to form a column wherein legrest portions of the first andsecond seats laterally overlap along a length of the column, and whereina legrest of each of the first and second seats is positioned underneatha desk of the opposing suite when the first and second seats are in alie-flat configuration.